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Die, Selfish Gene, Die - Aeon Magazine. "Did you know that grasshoppers (quiet, solitary, peaceful eaters) are actually the *same animal* as locusts (noisy, swarming, voracious)? In times of scarcity, certain species of grasshoppers transform into locusts, changing not just their behavior, but also their physical attributes: their legs and wings get shorter, their color changes, even their brains change, growing to manage the more social interactions of a locust horde. This phase change is the result of what scientists call 'gene expression' - the genes themselves don't change, but the way they express themselves - how they shape the animal and its behavior - does. Genetics, it turns out, is more complicated than we thought, and much of what we learned in biology class is wrong." (Hugh for Alistair).

David, Grostern & Lozeau: Imagining Montreal As A City-State - National Post. "This one is for the locals. I love Montreal. It's an amazing city. Speaking personally, I came out of the uncertainties of the mid-nineties (when Quebec voters narrowly defeated a referendum to separate from Canada) with a sense of growing optimism about Montreal, and I moved back here (from NYC) in 2002. Montreal seemed on the rise: a city increasingly comfortable in two languages, well-positioned to bridge Europe and North America as a nexus of trade and culture, had plenty of natural resources (including a plentiful supply of hydro-electricity) keeping the province wealthy, more universities per capita than any other city in Canada, and a kind of off-center political climate that made things exciting. But my optimism over the last decade, and especially the past few years, is waning. Quebec seems increasingly isolationist, and keeps implementing (or threatening to implement) policies that will chip away at Quebec's ability to compete in the world, not to mention its global reputation. Defending language and culture are surely important, but if these defenses result in a decline in Quebec's vibrancy and wealth - then we all need to ask ourselves some questions. Maybe the solution is for Montreal to go it alone?" (Hugh for Mitch).

Jony Ive's Secret Coffee Ritual - The Blog Of Tim Ferriss. "I know how much Alistair likes someone who is dedicated to the point of obsession about a topic. I also know how much more Alistair likes it when that passion is on something obscure or weird. Well, this one may just take the cake. Listen, I love a great cafe au lait as much as the next person and there is nothing quite as amazing as a killer cup of java meshed with great conversation and ideation, but this is taking things to a whole other level. If I'm not mistaken, Apple may be able to create these products that fascinate humanity because the design team is caffeinated unlike any other human being on the planet. If they care this much about the coffee, it's no wonder that their hardware is so glaringly gorgeous." (Mitch for Alistair).

David Simon: 'There are now two Americas. My country is a horror show' - The Guardian. "If you live in the United States or visit it on a more frequent basis, it's hard not to read this piece by David Simon and not be moved. Most people know Simon as the creator of the amazing TV series, The Wire. If you do some quick searches of him on YouTube, you will also discover someone who frequently gives speeches on the state of our states. In this piece, you'll get a vibe for the kind of presentations he gives and how he will (hopefully) get you thinking very differently about the rich and the poor, and about capitalism and social impact. Powerful, powerful stuff." (Mitch for Hugh).

Now it's your turn: in the comment section below pick one thing that you saw this week that inspired you and share it.